🤔 I have seen & heard #FamilyCourt, #cafcass & #socialworkers tear mothers to pieces due to the #DomesticAbuse & past traumas they've experienced. Yet, perpetrators are rarely scrutinised over their abuse‼️ ➡️ We need these systems to start recognising perpetrators' abusive actions; to stop focusing on, & judging, innocent victims for being in an abusive relationship... & start holding abusers accountable for choosing to abuse. Yes, it is a choice - perpetrators CHOOSE to abuse... a victim does NOT choose to be abused. ➡️ It is completely unfair to judge victims for their natural trauma responses, yet not recognise the perpetrator's abuse & mistreatment of the victim as being an issue. These so-called "professionals" proclaim to fulfil the "best interests of children" policy, yet are unable, or unwilling, to recognise the signs of abuse... neither do they listen to children’s voices. It is disgraceful‼️ ➡️ Family court MUST STOP punishing mothers & children for their natural trauma responses to being abused, & start dealing with the fundamental issues at hand - namely, #Accountability for the abusers themselves‼️ @AlexChalkChelt @CommissionerDA @JudiciaryUK ✳️ An excerpt (below) from @davidgmandel 's book: "Stop Blaming Mothers & Ignoring Father's: How to transform the way we keep children safe from #DomesticViolence" ⬇️ amazon.com/Stop-Blaming-Moth…

✳️ Debate in the House of Lords ✳️ ➡️ I am looking forward to hearing the outcome of the debates regarding how victims of #DomesticAbuse can be better protected within #familycourt: thebureauinvestigates.com/st… ➡️ Part of this debate will be focused on "Parental alienation" being used as a counter-allegation to abuse allegations. In short, "PA" is a blindsiding abusers' tool, which uses #DARVO & muddies the waters, causing devastating outcomes for children, who are subsequently torn from their safe parent, to live with the abusive parent. ➡️ It is vital to achieve a ban on unregulated psychologists assessing abuse victims, & to prevent "PA" being counter-alleged when abuse is raised as an issue. ➡️ Baroness Chakrabarti has put forward amendments to the Victim's bill, seeking to ensure adult & child survivors of domestic abuse have more robust protection. ➡️ I'm very glad that the issue of unregulated experts has prompted Labour MPs to call for an urgent inquiry. The recommendations of court-appointed psychologists can result in life-changing decisions for children. However, the label “psychologist,” is not a protected title, meaning that anyone can use it. In a "justice" system, which dictates the futures of children, this is Unacceptable. ➡️ Guidance says that all practitioner psychologists providing evidence should be regulated by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), which ensures they meet certain standards and can be held accountable for bad practice. ➡️ It is vital to check the HCPC register before agreeing to any recommended "psychologist." If their name is not registered, then they should NOT be instructed to complete an assessment. Psychologists can be checked on the hcpc register, here: hcpc-uk.org/check-the-regist… ➡️ Unfortunately, judges can nonetheless appoint someone not registered with the HCPC at their discretion. However, this is not following the FJC/BPA guidance. Nor is it sensible or safe. ✅️ Amending the law would ensure court-appointed psychologists are ALWAYS regulated by the HCPC ✅️ ➡️ I would also like to add here, that I am fully aware that there are HCPC registered psychologists who endorse the pseudoscience of "PA" & this is a further issue that needs to be tackled... This only further supports the banning of "PA" allegations in the #FamilyCourt, particularly as a counter-allegation to abuse... An amendment that barrister @DrProudman has been campaigning for, to ensure "parental alienation" allegations can not be considered by the court if findings of abuse are found. ➡️ One thing I would also like to highlight here, is the significant reluctance demonstrated by the courts, to recognise & acknowledge domestic abuse in the first place. I've known so many victims, who have had unmistakable evidence of the abuse they've suffered, yet the evidence is ignored in court. This is yet another pressing issue which needs addressing. 🙏Thank you to @hansummers for this report: thebureauinvestigates.com/st… ✅️ Let's hope this debate brings lasting positive change to better protect victims of domestic abuse ✅️ cc @SheraFamily @jadewelshy @FCreform1 @LDNVictimsComm @VictimsComm